Sitting atop SEC women's tennis hosts Tennessee

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Riding a three-match win streak in Southeastern Conference action, the 23rd-ranked University of Arkansas Razorback women’s tennis team will face a pair of SEC Eastern Division opponents on Friday and Sunday. Arkansas (8-4, 3-1) is tied atop the SEC with five other teams and will host the 13th-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols on Friday at noon, before heading to Athens, Ga. to take on No. 2 Georgia in a noon match as well. “We’re looking forward to some great competition this weekend from Tennessee and Georgia,” said Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty. “Both teams are having outstanding seasons and we will have to be at our best.” The Razorbacks are coming off a tough loss at No. 5 Miami last week, but on a positive note Arkansas is 3-0 in matches following a loss. In singles, senior Aurelija Miseviciute remains at No. 4 as she closes in on her 30th win of the season, while sophomore Anouk Tigu sits at No. 68, respectively. In doubles, Tigu and Nanar Airapetian crack the Top 30 at No. 28 with an 18-9 overall record. Tennessee (10-3, 3-1) comes to Fayetteville after losing, 5-2, to No. 3 Notre Dame last week and dropping two of their last three matches. The Lady Vols have only one ranked player in singles, Caitlin Whoriskey at No. 48, and she is also ranked twice in doubles, No. 32 with Natalie Pluskota and No. 59 with Maria Sorbello. Arkansas dropped Tennessee in Rocky Top last season, 6-1, as part of a five match winning-streak in SEC play. On Sunday, Arkansas will take on the Bulldogs (13-2, 3-1), a team they faced three times during the 2008 season. “Playing Georgia three times last season really made us a better team,” Hegarty said. “They are one of the great women’s tennis programs and any time you can compete with them it’s great for your development.” The Razorbacks stunned sixth-ranked Georgia last season, 4-3, at the Dills Indoor Tennis Center in their first match. The teams met once again in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament with Georgia, ranked eighth, winning another tough match, 4-3. Arkansas would get the last laugh of the 2008 season in a, 4-2, win during the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championships while the Bulldogs were the second-seed in the tournament. This season, the Bulldogs currently have four players ranked in the Top 75 in singles, led by freshman Chelsey Gullickson at No. 9. Following Gullickson in the rankings, are Yvette Hyndman (52), Nadja Gilchrist (63), and Monika Dancevic (74), respectively. In doubles, Gullickson and Hyndman sit at No. 11, while Gullickson and Gilchrist are at No. 30, and Glichrist with Dancevic come in at No. 50 depending on which pairs are chosen. Georgia has won their last two matches, and will face No. 21 LSU on Friday before hosting the Hogs. If you can’t make it out to Friday’s afternoon match be sure and visit ARKANSASRAZORBACKS.COM for live stats of the event.